Walls of Protection- 5M 12D to EOT

Juju so happy to go back to church last week & this is one large wall.

Saturday, April 5th - 2pm

5 months & 12 days until the end of treatment

Hello dear family,

Two weeks ago, Julia had her labs checked after an increase in her chemotherapy. The results were encouraging—the increase worked, her bone marrow is complying and her numbers have started to decline slightly, just as her care team hoped. Yesterday, she had her monthly clinic visit, which included lab work, the last make-up lumbar puncture with chemo (yay!), and a couple of prophylactic infusions. Juju was amazing, with her sweet attitude and contagious joy! Her lab results show steady progress with her numbers continuing to drop, not dramatically, but enough to be where she needs to be and there are no more med increases for now.

Our next visit will be for the start of a new cycle in the maintenance phase (6/8 cycles), the first week of May. Also, she will be having a follow up leg ultrasound to monitor the complex cyst in her left leg. Thank you so much for keeping Juju in your thoughts and prayers.

This past Sunday, our pastor shared a message from 2 Thessalonians 3 (paraphrased). 'In this passage, the Apostle Paul asks for prayer, seeking success in spreading the gospel, that it would reach more people, be effective, and for protection from the evil one. He also reminds the church of God's faithfulness, reassuring them that God will establish and guard their faith. Paul urges the church to bear each other's burdens, to pray and love one another.'

Our pastor explained that God has built protective walls around us. I envision these walls like the ones I picture with Juju above—no way to jump over, climb, or find cracks to escape. Our task is simply to stay within those walls. The realization of this protective walls God has built in my life, especially through this trial with Julia, is humbling and filled with His grace. He has surrounded me with selfless people who embody His love and often fill me with the courage and help me remember that we are not fighting alone. His love and presence is relentless, showing up in the darkest, quietest nights and the most eerie days. He gives me confidence that He is here (Psalm 121), walking with me, talking with me, and even when there are no words, faithfully someone sending a message like "I am praying for you, Julia," or sharing a scripture, a podcast or worship song that speaks directly to what my heart needs. We can't escape God's presence.

My mission inside these protective walls is to pray for families affected by pediatric cancer. These families need hope, and they need a tribe like the one we have here. Thank you, family for being part of my tribe. I am always giving thanks for each of you who continually pray for Julia. I do my best to try to show up for others as often as I can and simply continue to love God with all my heart and life. I haven’t arrived yet—I desperately seek and need Christ every day, we all do, amen?

With full assurance, I can say that all the answers to our prayers during Julia’s battle—the care we’ve received, the favor extended to Juju, the peace in difficult situations, the love, the encouraging messages, the small and big miracles we’ve experienced, and the strength to keep going—are all testaments to God’s faithfulness and are directly linked to your faithful prayers. I’ve often shared with friends that I don’t know where I’d be without my faith in God (which is why I chose the song below for the video). Especially during a trial like this, it’s so easy to feel lost, alone and entangled in life’s numbing alternatives. Thanks be to God for establishing our faith in Him. It’s because of Him that we have hope.

If i can ask for specific prayer, would you say a prayer for my son Miguel, he turned 21yrs. old a couple of days ago, pray for God's guidance in his life, surrender and direction for his future. Next weekend my husband, juju and I will be flying out to Texas for Easter vacation (hurray) much needed time off. Please pray God's protection over our trip and for Juju's health and safety.

So much that has happened this month, checkout my little sunshine adventures in March.

If you are in IG you can find us @mylittlesunshinejulia - I would love to connect.

As always with much love and gratitude!

"1 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. 2 Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. 3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you.5 May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3: 1-5

Our hope is in the Lord!

Juju's March 2025 Adventures - Thanks to @icingsmiles for delicious sugar cookies @maxlove for the Ohana day @tanakafarms gracious host @TeamNEGU unforgettable Gala night @Sunshinekids funday @Backyard Bees education event - this month was so much fun! Claiming back our lives one day at a time.

Clinic Day - 4/4/2025